Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Midsummer Match Cup in Skärhamn, Sweden - Overall

by Fabian Bengtsson 29 Jun 2019 09:24 PDT 25-29 June 2019
Midsummer Match Cup is the first Grade 1 regatta in the world with a mixed team rule © Linus Arvidsson

Ian Williams Team GAC Pindar won the final of the inaugural edition of Midsummer Match Cup after an impressive comeback against Eric Monnin and Capvis Swiss Match Race Team.

The wind increased to over 20 knots during the final between Ian Williams (GBR) and Eric Monnin (SUI), the two highest ranked match racing skippers in the world.

The duel got a dramatic start when Williams crashed into his opponent and got caught with the bowsprit in the stern of Monnin's boat. The situation ended with a black flag to Team GAC Pindar and put the score at -1 against 1. But the British team came back strong in the two following matches to make it 1-1. It all came down to a deciding match full of lead changes.

Monnin took the start but Williams came back on the first downwind. After a bad rounding from the britts, Monnin once again had the upper hand. On the last leg Williams's team found more speed and were able to pass on the leeward side and cross the finish line as winners of Midsummer Match Cup 2019. "It's incredible to come back from the mistakes we made, because they really put us on the back foot", said Williams and continued:

"To come back from that feels sensational. The wind was very strong during the final and that obviously makes it really challenging, and very small mistakes are magnified. Our small mistake at the bottom rounding cost us a lot and Eric's mistake at the top mark cost him the same. We made it thanks to great work by the whole team; Hannah Diamond, Sara Stone and Gerry Mitchell".

And Williams doesn't put the blame for the crash on anyone but himself. "It was my bad and when you are in the helmsman's position you can't really see the bowsprit, and I even forgot that we had a bowsprit. It doesn't point more than 20 centimeters from the hull but it was enough to catch them. It was my fault, it was really costly but I'm very happy that we were able to move on, take one race at a time and come back to take the win".

Nicolai Sehested's Gringo Sailing Team won 2-1 against Team Lucy Macgregor in the Petite Final. The Danish skipper has been sailing with Peter Wibroe and the Brazilian Olympic gold medallists Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze. "I have had a lot of fun in this event and we are super happy with our result", said Martine Grael and continued:"I'm looking forward to coming back next year if we can manage it with our Olympic campaign. We have an experienced team with Peter and Nicolai who have been sailing a lot together just like me and Kahena have. I have really enjoyed racing a mixed team event"

Find full results here

Final Results - Midsummer Match Cup 2019

Ian Williams, Team GAC Pindar (GBR) 2
Eric Monnin, Capvis Swiss Match Race Team (SUI) 1

Results petite finale

Lucy Macgregor, Team Macgregor (GBR) 1
Nicolai Sehested, Gringo Sailing Team (DEN) 2

Results semi-finals

Ian Williams, Team GAC Pindar (GBR) 2
Lucy Macgregor, Team Macgregor (GBR) 0

Eric Monnin, Capvis Swiss Match Race Team (SUI) 2
Nicolai Sehested, Gringo Sailing Team (DEN) 1

Teams in the final of Midsummer Match Cup 2019

Capvis Swiss Match Race Team (SUI)

Eric Monnin
Livia Näf
Julia Falxa
Lauranne Mettraux

Team GAC Pindar (GBR)

Ian Williams
Hannah Diamond
Gerry Mitchell
Sara Stone

Petit Final of Midsummer Match Cup

Gringo Sailing Team (DEN)

Nicolai Sehested
Martine Grael
Kahena Kunze
Peter Wibroe

Team Macgregor (GBR)

Lucy Macgregor
Rosie Watkins
Duncan Yeabsley
Ollie Spensley-Corfield

For more information, visit midsummermatchcup.com

Related Articles

GKSS Match Cup & Nordea Women's Trophy overall
It is the first time the Match Cup Sweden title has been won by a Danish Skipper Denmark's Jeppe Borch/ Team Borch Match Race, and France's Pauline Courtois/ Match in Pink by Normandy crowned the new champions of Marstrand in a day of fierce weather for the final of 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy in Marstrand. Posted today at 7:14 am
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D5
Stage set for Finals showdown in Marstrand With just one day to go at the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, the stage is set for a thrilling finale in both the Open and Women's classes. Posted on 4 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D4
High stakes for semi-finalists as the final four teams in each division are locked in The third day of racing at GKSS Match Cup Sweden saw the completion of the quarter-final match-ups in both the Open and Women's class, locking in the final four teams in each division for Friday's semi-finals. Posted on 3 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class. Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D2
A challenging southerly breeze and short three-lap course put teams to task A challenging southerly breeze and short three-lap course put teams to task on the second day of racing at the GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy in Marstrand, Sweden. Posted on 1 Jul
RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championships 2025
Nine teams duelled for supremacy in glamour conditions at the WPNSA The 2025 RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championships saw nine teams duelling for supremacy in glamour conditions at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. Posted on 1 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D1
Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day of the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, official championship stages of the World Match Racing Tour and Women's World Match Racing Tour. Posted on 1 Jul
Aspen renews sponsorship for Women's Match Race
As title sponsor of the 2025 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and World Match Racing Tour has announced the return of leading speciality insurer and re-insurer ASPEN as title sponsor of the 2025 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta to be held from 21-26 October. Posted on 20 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA overall
A tense light-air final on the Severn River USA's women's match racing team Team Baam skippered by Allie Blecher from California won the 2025 Santa Maria Cup today, defeating Vela Racing team skippered by Nicole Breault 3-0 in a tense light-air final on the Severn River. Posted on 8 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 3
Nicole Breault and Allie Blecher to meet in the final USA's Nicole Breault / Vela Racing and Allie Blecher / Team Baam have both advanced to the final of the Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, the second stage of the 2025 Women's World Match Racing Tour championship. Posted on 7 Jun
Sea Sure 2025Palm Beach Motor YachtsZhik 2024 December